FluxRostrum Attacked by NYPD ~ VIDEO

[FluxRostrum]

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Story by I-Witness Video



On October 30, 2006 at a demonstration protesting the murder of journalist Brad Will in Mexico, members of the NYPD assaulted an independent videographer and stole his videocamera.

That's right, stole. The filmmaker, FluxRostrum, was not arrested. He did not receive a receipt for seized property. He was not even directly asked for his camera. Instead, without any warning, he was jumped by two police officers, one of whom is an NYPD captain, and knocked down onto the asphalt of 39th Street. One police officer was succcesful in wrenching the camera out of Flux's hands. As Flux crawled around on the ground looking for the eyeglasses which had been knocked off his face during the attack, the cop with the camera quickly conferred with another officer. Then he ran off to hide the camera.

When Flux attempted to get his camera back after the demonstration, he was threatened with arrest by a Lieutenant at the 17th Precinct. His lawyer was told that camera was found "abandoned" at the scene and that it had been turned over to the Manhattan District Attorney's office to be used as evidence against people arrested at the Mexican Consulate demonstration that day.

Someone at the 17th Precinct told the D.A. that the camera was found "abandoned" on the sidewalk. Now the D.A. is insisting on keeping a copy of the stolen videotape to use as evidence.

Is this the new normal? Is it legal just because the police say so?

If police do not have their own videocameras at events will they simply bonk one of us over the head and steal our gear and videotapes? What if they decide that they do not like what the videotape shows? Will they then destroy it as has happened to so many cameras seized by the NYPD over the past couple of years?

This story is a little hard to believe, isn't it? Fortunately, you do not have to take my word for it. Not to be denied his voice, Flux made a videotape about his experience at the hands of NYPD.

This is the first blog installment in an ongoing I-Witness Video investigation, The War on Cameras.

POSTED BY
Eileen Clancy

WATCH THE VIDEO

[Kagemusha]

1. ...Guess they 'learned' from that case in California.

You know, the one where an independent reporter refused to hand his tapes over and he's been charged with contempt of court for refusing to cooperate with an ongoing grand jury investigation.

If it's not the new normal, someone out there would dearly like it to become the new normal because of the trouble that prosecutors in California have had in the case I mention.

Edit: Er, are you the person being described in the third person in the post, since your nick is the same as that mentioned in the article?

[Bonobo]

2. Wow. Anyone who saw that witnessed a heinous crime.

We MUST find the names of those "policemen". They MUST be brought to justice.

I salute you Flux. A brave, brave man you are. A hero, a patriot.

I feel like calling the NYPD tomorrow. Anyone have any advice for how/what to say? Any lawyers here? Can you comment?
I am pretty certain we saw a felony committed, so why can't we just report it? (Or do we need "standing" or something?)

[FluxRostrum]

3. Things you could do to help

We have the cops names and contact info and select other contacts HERE

also, the video is in the Contagious festival at Huffington Post if you'd like to vote for it there and maybe pass it around CLICK HERE

[Bonobo]

4. Thank you. I will see what I can do after checking links.

But couldn't you repost this in GD and in the political video post. I REALLY think you should. This is an illusion-shattering masterpiece. I was particularly moved when you asked how long it would be before they just shoot us too.

[Bonobo]

5. I made the first contribution! I hope many follow. You deserve support!

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[FluxRostrum]

6. thank you

thanks, it's nice to be appreciated.
all support, finacial or otherwise, is welcome and needed.

I posted it here 1st instead of the Video section because I figured self defined "activists" might be more familiar with my work and would know how to help spread the word. You have my blessing to get the word out anyway you enjoy. ;~)